Recorder for sleeping-cars



(No Model.) 3 Sheets--Sheet 1. W. G. PLANNERY.

RECORDER FOR SLEEPING GARS. 10.596,027. Patented Dec. 21,1897.

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(No Model.) I S'Sh'eets-Sheet 2.

W. C. FLANNERY. RECORDER EUR SLEEPING CARS.

No.1596,1027. r Patented Dec. 21,1897.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

. W. C. .FLANNERY. RECORDER FOR SLEEPING YARS.- No. 596,027. Patented Deo.. 21,1897.

iINirnn STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

WILLIAM C. FL'ANNERY, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AS-

SIGNOR OF TIVO-THIRDS TO DE WITT C. SMITH, OF SAME'PLACE, AND IVILLIAM S. BARNETT, OF CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,027, dated December 21, 1897.

Application filed JULY 13; 1897 T0 LU La7/,0772, it r11/ty concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. FLANNERY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Washington, in the Districtof Columbia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Recorders for Sleeping Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means which may be applied to sleeping-car berths to render them unavailable for use until the conductor or porter, or both shall deposit int-o or apply to the mechanism a check, token, or other device which is made a means for releasing parts which make up the berth or releasing means which renders said berth unavailable and which checks, tokens, or other devices then pass into a suitable receptacle to which only the auditing oiiicials i have access. By this means an accurate and insubvertible record is kept of transactions in connection with each berth and necessitate the conductors returns being in accord with the actual sales made.

Owing to peculiarities in theV established system of using sleeping-car berths, according to which both the upper and lowerberths may be occupied, or both of said berths may be brought into position while only one is occupied, or it is frequently required to bring only the lower berth into position and to restore the upper berth to day position while both berths or a whole section is paid for, it becomes necessary to provide a peculiar system for recording the varying facts as tothe sale of the sleeping accommodations. We require mechanism for recording not only Whether the individual berths were occupied, but also whether the upper berth was sold when not occupied for the purpose of having it raised to day position to obtain better ventilation; and to accomplish this and provide a system not subvertible, it is necessary to provide an interlocking system which controls the manipulation of the berths. A record will be kept under four different conditions namely, when the lower berth alone is sold, when the upper berth aloneis sold, when both berths are sold and occupied, and when awhole section is sold but only the lower berth occupied. The result to be attained with the upper berth is to record whether it was sold and whether serial No. 644,399. (No model.)

A portion of the mon object by utilizing the safety-cord. Further difliculties arise from the differences in construction and manner of operation between the upper and lower berths and the ne- I oessity for .opening the upper berth whether used or not to procure furnishings for the lower berth. A still further difficulty arises from the opportunity for collusion between the conductor and porter. In view of all of these conditions I have found that the best form of complete working system is that which employs individual locking devices for the respective berths and has a connecting link between the two berths for the purpose 0f effecting the interlocking relation and compelling the simultaneousv manipulation of both. Accordingly the locking-cord carries a device which is necessarily brought into use together with a check forunlocking the lower berth and by that act becomes itself interlocked and fastened against retraction. Being released only by the introduction of another check it serves as an alternative locking device for the upper berth and as a means of .recording whether the occupant of the lower berth paid for all or half of the section, inasmuch as whenever awhole section is paid for and the lower berth only occupied the additional expense is incurred by the occupant simply for the purpose of having the upper berth returned to day position to give more room in the lower berth.

In carrying out my invention I adopt a system which makes use of these conditions to advantage by compelling both the conductor and porter to deposit individual checks, tokens, or other devices and take advantage of the peculiarities of the present construction of upper and lower berths to add safeguards to the system.

One feature of my system consists in requir- IOO ing the conductor to deposit his distinguishing device in a receptacle of each berth, so as to make him responsible for the price of that berth before it can be made up for occupancy, While the porter is required to deposit his check or equivalent device in each berth before it can be again restored to condition for day-service, so that if the conductor should by some means evade the conditions imposed upon him that fact would be disclosed by the presence of the porters device, and collusion will be impossible between conductor and porter, as the latters check will announce that the berth has been occupied.

Another feature of my invention consists in introducing the safety-cord required by law to be applied to the upper berth as a part of` the means required to be brought into play to release the upholstering which forms the mattress of the lower berth and causing the catch of said cord to become thereby locked against removal until released by the introduction of an additional conductors or porters check. It follows from this arrangement that should the lower berth only be occupied and the occupant pay for the entire section this fact will appear from the additional check required to release the safetycorc A further feature consists in providing the upper berth with a barrier which shall render it unavailable for use until the conductors check is deposited.

A further feature consists in providing, in connection with the aforesaid barrier, an independent locking device which is thrown into action by the removal of said barrier, so that thereafter the upper berth may not be returned to day-service position except the porter first introduce his check to release the locking device and then withdraw said locking device by returning the barrier to such normal position as will preclude subsequent use of the berth until the conductor again introduces his check.

By using this combination of devices it follows that both the upper and lower berths, aside from being controlled by their individual locking devices, are dependent on the use of the cord and the end piece carried thereby, first, for the purpose of releasing the lower berth, and, secondly, for the purpose of locking down the upper berth, so that the manipulation of said cord becomes necessary in the operation of both berths, and thus forms a connecting link in the complete system of operation which affords the desired result*- namely, the impossibility of using either berth, or a whole section with the upper berth raised, without indicating the fact by the presence of a predetermined number of checks or tokens.

The several features of my invention will now be fully described and elucidated by mechanism which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but to which my invention is nevertheless not confined, as other mechanical arrangements varying in details might be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of a sleeping-car to which my invention is applied. Fig. 2 is an elevation of one side of the same. Figs. 3 and 4.- are end views of the lower seat, showing in .two different positions mechanism applied thereto for locking the upholstering or mattress up or down, which mechanism requires the application of the safety-cord catch and engages it when it is introduced. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a plan and transverse section of the upper-berth mechanism. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the locking connection for the barrier of the upper berth.

1 represents the end frame of the seats, which is provided with the usual upholstering 2, formed in seat and back sections and adapted to slide down to provide one-half of each mattress when the lower berth is made up. Each back-section carries a T- head 3, which runs in a groove 4 to guide it in its upand-down movement.

5 represents a dog pivoted at 6 and movable into and out of the path of the head 3, so as to determine whether the latter can move up or down in its groove 4.-.

7 represents a tumbler having a vertical sliding movement between guides 8 and 9 and provided with a notch lO, which will receive the dog 5 when said notch is brought down opposite said dog.

11 represents a hook carried at the end of the safety-cord 12, which hangs down from the upper berth.

The parts being in the normal position shown in Fig. 4 a check is inserted in the slot 16 and drops through said slot until arrested by the contracted space formed by the wheel 17 and the lower end of the dog 5. The hook 11 on the end of the safety-cord is inserted in an opening 11n in the casing of the locking device and utilized to push down the tumbler 7 against the check, forcing said check downward in the contracted space until the check bears against that portion of the dog below its pivot 6, at which point the check throws the dog back out of the path of the T- head 3 and the projection 5 on the dog into engagement with the slot 7u in the tumbler, thus locking the tumbler in its lowest position. To insure the slot 7 being in proper position to receive the projection 5L when turned on its pivot, as just described, the tumbler is provided with a stop 14, which engages a pin 15 to limit the downward movement of said tumbler. Vhile the parts are in this position, Fig. 3, the upper berth is in its lowered position by reason of the engagement of the hook 11 on the safety-cord 12 with the hook 13 of thertumbler and cannot be raised until another check is inserted. To raise the upper berth, a check is inserted in the slot 16, through which it drops until arrested by the end 2O of the tumbler and IIO IZO

the periphery of wl1eel17. The wheel is then rotated by a suitable knob to bring a pocket 1S beneath the check, so that said check will fall into and be held by said pocket. The wheel being further rotated the check will be'carried over and forced against the end 20 of the tumbler, thereby moving the tumbler very slightlyout of a vertical position, thus throwing the projection 5f out of the slot 7 a and freeing the tumbler, whereupon it may be pulled up by the safety-cord and the hook 11 disengaged from the hook 13. A ratchet and pawl 21 prevent the wheel 17 from being turned back. The check must therefore be deposited in a receptacle 22, Where it remains to be removed by the auditor and becomes a means of indicating the fact that the berthA has been used. lThus it will be seen that it is impossible for the conductor to sell the whole section and to account for only the price of the lower berth, for it is necessary to insert an additional check to release the tumbler and raise the upper berth, and when this is done the locking parts are moved so that they stand in the positions shown in Fig. 4, whenit will be impossible to restore the lower berth to day-service condition without again lowering the upper berth, introducing the safety-hook, and pushing down the tumbler-7 until the notch 10 corresponds with the dog 5. When this is done, the lower berth is restored, and the porter then introduces his check into the slot to in the receptacle 24, provided in connection with said upper berth, I provide a barrier 25, projecting froma shaft 26, which carries a disk 27, having a notch 2S, into which a projection 29 on a push-rod 30 may enter. The push-rod 30 extends to the front side of the upper berth, where it is provided with abifurcated end 31, from which lugs extend upwardly, as best seenin Fig. 6. A push-rod 32 is mounted in the outer edge of the berth between the lugs on the bifurcated end of the rod 30, as shown. When a check (shown at 33) is dropped into a slot 34, it forms a means for the engagement of the knob 32 with the bifurcated end 3l of the push-bar 30, and the projection 29 on said bar may thus be pushed l outof the notch 28 in opposition to the spring 35, and the barrier 25 may then be turned around into a position along the inner edge of the berth, where it will oifer no inconvenience to the occupant, and the berth will therefore be available for use. The act of swinging the barrier 25 vinto the aforesaid position throws out locking-arms 36 into locking engagement with the bunk or berth partition (not shown) between which the berth is mounted. At the saine time the projection 29 will enter another notch 28 and hold the arms in said locked position until the pushbar 30 has again been retracted by the introduction of another check into the slot 34. By this means I provide against the occupancy of the upper berth until the conductor has inserted his check and also against the return of the berth to day-service condition after being occupied until the porter has introduced his check. A double system of checking is thereby effectively applied to the upper berth as well as to the lower.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim las new therein and desire to secure by Letters'Patent:

1. In a sleeping-car, the combination of a lower berth having parts movable to form the mattress, a check-controlled locking device to prevent the movement of said parts until a check is introduced, an upper berth having a safety-cord, and a device carried by said -cord for actuating the locking device; said locking device being constructed to engage.

the actuating device carried by said cord to prevent its withdrawal, substantially as herein explained.

2. In combination with the upper and lower berths and a cord attached to the upper berth; a locking device for the lower berth, a reciprocating tumbler which controls the locking device and has controlling connection'with the cord of the upper berth, and a check-actuating means which releases said locking device through the medium of said tumbler; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with a sleeping-car seat having a part movable to form a bed; a projection on said movable part, a dog movable in and out of the path of said projection, a tumbler controlling the movement of said dog, mounted to reciprocate relatively thereto and having controlling connection with the upper berth, and engaged by the dog at the inner end of its movement, and a manually-operated check-actuating mechanism for releasing the engagement between the dog and the tumbler and having a receptacle into which `the check is delivered by the act'of releasing the tumbler; substantially as explained.

4. In combination with the berth of a sleeping-car, a barrier to prevent occupancy of said berth, a locking device to prevent the movement of said barrier and a check-controlled means for releasing said locking device, substantially as herein explained.

5. In combination with a sleeping-berth, a barrier movable into and out of a position to prevent occupancy of the berth, a locking device which locks said barrier into4 or out of said position, a check-controlled device for. releasing said locking device, and an additional lookin g device controlled by the movelOO IIO

ment of the barrier and constructed to lock the berth against movement when the barrier is moved out of obstructive position, substantially as herein explained.

6. In combination with a sleeping-berth, a barrier consisting of an arm mounted upon an axis which permits it to swing into and out of an obstructive position,lockingarms which lock the berth against movement as the barrier is moved from obstructive position and which are Withdrawn as said barrier is returned to said obstructive position, and a check-controlled locking device which locks the barrier in either of its positions and thereby requires an insertion of the check for the removal of the barrier and an additional check for Withdrawal of the locking-arms when the berth is to be moved, substantially as herein explained.

7. In combination with a sleeping-berth, a barrier mounted upon a shaft, and adapted thereby to be moved into and out of obstructive position With relation to said berth, a disk carried by said shaft and provided with notches, a push-bar engaging in notches of said disk when the barrier is in either of its tivo positions aforesaid, arms for locking the berth against movement, connected With said disk so as to be projected as the barrier is Withdrawn from obstructive position and drawn in as said barrier is returned to its obstructive position, and a checkcontrolled releasing device for the push-bar, substantially as herein explained.

8. In a sleepin g-car; the combination of an upper berth, a lower berth, an independent locking device foreach of said berths,a safetycord connected with the upper berth and carrying a device which actuates the locking device of the lower berth and interlocks therewith; and check-controlled releasing mechanisms for the independent looking devices of the berths and for said safety-cord; Whereby an interlocking system is obtained which necessitates the cooperation of the berths and the employment of a plurality of checks or tokens for the manipulation of either; substantially as explained.

9. In combination With a sleeping-car berth a locking-cord therefor, a check-actuated releasing mechanism for said cord, and a barrier controlled by a check-actuated locking device; substantially as herein explained.

l0. In a sleeping-car; the combination of a lower berth, an upper berth, a cord attached to said upper berth, a check-actuated locking device for engaging the end of said cord and holding the upper berth down until released by a check or token, a barrier for preventing occupancy of said upper berth, and a checkactuated locking device for said barrier; the checlcactuated locking device for the cord being combined with the moving part of the lower berth so as to control its movement in addition to controlling the'cord substantially as herein explained.

WILLIAM C. FLANNERY. Witnesses:

HUGH M. P. STERLING, KATHERINE E. MANNING. 

